Facebook Announces App Center

Facebook has announced its App Center, "a new place for people to find social apps", in its developer blog.

The social networking giant is capitalising in on the app store market, by using the App Center to promote apps that use Facebook logins.

Facebook users will be able to access the App Center on their iOS and Android devices through the Facebook app, and also on the web.

Aaron Brady, from Facebook, encouraged developers to make sure their apps are prepared for the launch, as "the App Center gives developers an additional way to grow their apps and creates opportunities for more types of apps to be successful."

The App Center will give each app a dedicated "app detail page" which will feature images, additional details and the app's specific required permissions. Developers can monitor user feedback through a new app rating system in Insights.

Brady warns though, that whilst "well-designed apps that people enjoy will be prominently displayed", any apps that "don't meet the quality guidelines won't be listed."

All apps that feature in the App Center will require Facebook logins, and any downloads will be done through the relevant device store (iOS App Store or Google Play store). Facebook will take 30 per cent of the sales of paid-for apps, but free apps won't be charged a 'service charge'.

The App Center will become available to developers throughout May, with the public release to follow soon after.